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Mugshots.com Writing Staff. New Orleans, LA – Robert Jones has been exonerated of four convictions for rape, robbery, kidnapping, and manslaughter. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the convictions. His false convictions were the result of the combination of mistaken witness identification, perjury, official misconduct, and false accusation by the actual perpetrator.

Jones was convicted of crimes spanning a two-month period in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1992. The series of crimes terrified tourists and residents of the world-famous tourist destination. The first attack occurred on February 13, 1992, which involved the robbery of a 27-year old victim at gunpoint. Then on April 6, group comprised of three women and one man were robbed at gunpoint, and one of the women was transported to a nearby housing project and raped. Finally, on April 14, a British tourist was shot and killed during a robbery attempt.

A couple of days later, a tip to Crimestoppers identified Jones and two of his acquaintances in the murder of the British tourist. Jones was subsequently identified by the rape victim as her attacker, and a member of her group who was robbed also identified Jones as the assailant. A third member of the group was unable to identify Jones as their attacker.

On April 22, police located a burgundy car that matched the description provided by several victims and witnesses of the various attacks during the French Quarter crime spree. As police took a closer look at the vehicle, Lester Jones approached them and demanded to know what they were doing.

He was wearing a Jesus medallion that had been stolen during the rape and robbery, so he was immediately placed under arrest. Upon searching the vehicle and Lester, several other items taken during the robberies were discovered. In addition, a handgun was recovered, which ballistics linked to the gun used to kill the British tourist.

The rape victim positively identified Lester’s car as the one she was forced into prior to being raped. However, when Lester was placed in a lineup for three of the victims, none were able to identify him as their attacker, and the rape victims together with one other victim insisted that Robert Jones was their attacker. As a result, Robert was charged with armed robbery, rape, and kidnapping.

At trial, the rape victim and two robbery victims identified Robert as their attacker. Members of his family testified that on the night of the rape, Robert was at a birthday party the entire night and stayed over. On March 12, 1996, Robert was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2006, Robert’s lawyers filed a post-conviction petition for a new trial. The basis for the request was an affidavit by Lester Jones who stated that despite the prosecution’s arguments at trial he did not know Lester, did not lend him his car, and did not receive any stolen items from the robberies from him. Lester stated that he implicated Robert at the time of the trial because detectives beat him until he did so.

In 2009, the Louisiana Court of Appeals denied the motion for a new trial, which was upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court. However, a subsequent motion for a new trial was ultimately granted by the Louisiana Court of Appeals because more exculpatory evidence was discovered in the police and prosecution files that was never turned over to the defense at the time of the trial.

After the numerous items of newly disclosed information and evidence were presented by Robert’s attorneys, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Arthur Hunter set bail for Robert at $36,000 for his release pending a new trial. After serving 23 years in prison, he was released on November 20, 2015.

On January 26, 2017, the prosecution dismissed all charges against Robert, and he was a free man after having served 23-years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit.

Image: The Times

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